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OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR INFORMATION CONCERNING COMPLAINT PROCEDURES This information is for the use of persons who wish to file a complaint about court staff or a court proceeding. Please read it carefully. It explains the procedures and is designed to prevent misunderstandings.
You can expect that the Office of the Court Administrator will be genuinely concerned with your complaint. It will receive full attention and follow-up. You can expect that any complaint concerning alleged misconduct of court staff or court procedure will be referred to the appropriate court or person for action within forty-eight hours. Court staff includes docket clerks, court managers, court officers, court stenographers, guardians ad litem and law clerks. Types of misconduct may include, but are not limited to, harassment, discrimination or bias. Examples of complaints concerning court procedure include unfair scheduling practices, delays in decision-making, or inconsistent information on filing procedures. You can expect the Office of the Court Administrator to review the court's action in response to your complaint. If warranted, the Office will conduct its own investigation into the matter. You can expect to be notified by the Court when the investigation into your complaint has been concluded. You can expect to be notified by the Court of the outcome of your complaint.
Although you can expect the court to provide helpful information on simple points of the law and court procedures, you should not expect to receive any recommendations regarding which course of conduct you should pursue or what would be best for you to do in a particular case. The court staff who will be handling your complaint are not attorneys. They cannot interpret the law or give you any insight as to how a judge might rule on your request. You should not expect the decision of a judicial officer (generally a judge, acting judge, or magistrate) to be overturned by the Office of the Court Administrator. A court order can only be reviewed by an appellate court. You should not expect anyone at the court or at the Office of the Court Administrator to interpret, justify or explain the meaning of a court's order. If you have questions regarding how to appeal an order of the court, contact the court staff. You should not expect any decisions involving the determination of financial need or the appointment of an attorney to be overturned by the Office of the Court Administrator. That decision is made by a Supreme Court Justice if an appeal is filed. If you feel that the decision made on an In Forma Pauperis or Public Defender Application was unfair or unjust, ask the Court Manager for information on how to appeal that decision. You should not expect the Office of the Court Administrator to investigate or discipline a judicial officer. If you wish to file a complaint against a judicial officer, contact the Judicial Conduct Board at the address below, or click here to go to their complaint brochure: Christopher Davis, Esq. You should not expect the Office of the Court Administrator to investigate or discipline an attorney. To file a complaint against an attorney, contact the Professional Responsibility Board at the address below, or view their complaint procedure by clicking here. Professional Responsibility Board A complaint is filed by submitting a letter setting forth the facts on which the complaint is based. No special format or language is necessary, but it is helpful to include the following information:
If it is necessary or appropriate, attach copies of any documents, letters, or other materials that pertain to or support your complaint. Send the letter to: The Office of the Court Administrator
Upon receiving your letter, a staff member of the Office of the Court Administrator will review the complaint. It is the policy of the Office of the Court Administrator to give the Court Manager or Probate Register the first opportunity to settle your concerns. Unless your complaint is against the Court Manager or Probate Register, the complaint will initially be forwarded to the Court Manager or Probate Register. The Court Manager or Probate Register will inquire into the matter and respond to you accordingly. If you believe that the Court Manager or Probate Register did not make a satisfactory attempt at settling your concerns, the Office of the Court Administrator may conduct another investigation into the matter, if appropriate. We cannot guarantee that complaints filed with the Office of the Court Administrator remain confidential. Click on the court to view the phone and address information.
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR COMPLAINT Before completing the following questions, please review the Information Concerning Complaint Procedures brochure.
IF NO: It is the policy of the Court Administrator to give the Court Manager the first opportunity to resolve your concerns. If you have not yet spoken with the Court Manager, please contact him/her regarding this complaint. Telephone numbers and addresses of all courts can be found by clicking here. IF YES:
Please return your complaint to:
The Office of the Court Administrator |
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